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You guys! You have no idea how excited I am about THE SOCIAL MEDIA EXPERIMENT releasing SEPTEMBER 2nd!!!

By far it was one of the most difficult books for me to write. As someone who dealt with bullying in school as well as a sufferer of anxiety, I really had to confront my demons in order to write this book. In the end, I like to think I came out stronger for it. Here’s a teeny-tiny snippet.

Why did hate bleed from their hearts onto the walls? Aside from the declarations of love, why were the bathroom stalls dripping with venom? Where was the hope amidst the poison?

~ THE SOCIAL MEDIA EXPERIMENT by Cole Gibsen

So now for the grand unveiling…

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TADA!!!

I am seriously so in love with this cover. And if you noticed the equally awesome countdown widget on the side of my website, you can get your own by copying this code and pasting it into your own blog or website:

Hooray! You’ve found my stop on the Spring 2014 YA Scavenger Hunt!

I’m Cole Gibsen. I write young adult and new adult fiction, compete in agility trials with my Australian Shepherd, and rock out in a band on weekends. I’m not the drummer, but that doesn’t stop me from grabbing a pair of drumsticks and posing in epic rock goddess fashion whenever the drummer gets up for a bathroom break.

On this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each participating YA author, you also get a secret number. Add up the numbers, and enter it for a chance to win a major prize–one lucky winner will receive at least one signed book from each author on my team in the hunt! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online until noon PST on Sunday, April 6th!

You can start right here or you can also go to the YA Scavenger Hunt homepage to find out all about the hunt. There are TWO contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or both! I am a part of the RED TEAM–but there is also a blue team and if you do the blue hunt you’ll have a chance to win a whole different set of signed books!

If you’d like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, see the full list of prizes up for grabs, or if you get lost along the way, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt homepage.

Looking for my exclusive bonus content??? Somewhere on this blog hop, I’ve hidden a major news announcement!!! My amazing agent wrangled me not one, but TWO young adult book deals!!! Want to know more? You’ll have to follow the links at the end of each Scavenger Hunt Post. .

Before you go on though, check out the amazing author I’m hosting. But, first, a few rules.

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE

Directions: Below, you’ll notice that I’ve listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the red team, and then add them up (don’t worry, you can use a calculator!). Hint: the secret number is highlighted in RED.

Entry Form: Once you’ve added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.

Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by April 6th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

Now that all the technical stuff is out of the way, I’ll introduce the author I am hosting on this hunt.

I am super excited to be hosting…

J.A. SOUDERS

Not only is J.A. Souders an incredible writer, but she’s also super fun to hang out with. Every year at the Romantic Times convention we’ll get together and some of our conversations may or may not have been recorded on an “Overheard at RT” blog post.

Bio: J.A. Souders is the author of the Elysium Chronicles (including RENEGADE, A DARK GRAVE, and REVELATIONS) and lives in the land of sunshine and palm trees where she spends her time writing about the monsters under the bed, day dreaming about living in an underwater colony, and failing miserably at playing video games.

The book she’s showcasing on the Spring Hunt is….
Elysium Chronicles: REVELATIONS

The Elysium Chronicles, J.A. Souders’ riveting SF series for teens which began with the psychological thriller Renegade, continues in Revelations.

Six weeks after her arrival on the Surface, Evelyn Winters is no closer to unlocking the memories lost in her subconscious than she was when she fist came. Isolated in a strange new society, Evie has only Gavin Hunter to remind her of who she once was.

But even with a clean slate, it’s easy to see that Evie doesn’t fit in on the Surface. And as her differences make her feel more and more alone, she can’t help but yearn for that place she doesn’t remember: the isolated city hidden in the depths of the ocean. Elysium. Home.

But she can’t exactly tell Gavin what she’s feeling. Not when he’s the one who helped her escape Elysium in the first place, and has the scars to prove it. Though the doctors say otherwise, Gavin believes Evie just needs time. And if her memories don’t come back, well, maybe she’s better off not remembering the past.

But the decision may be out of their hands when Evie’s ever-elusive memories begin to collide with reality. People and images from her past appear in the most unlikely places, haunting her, provoking her…and making her seem not only strange but dangerous.

Evie and Gavin can’t wait around for her memories to return. They’ll have to journey across the Outlands of the Surface to find help, and in the end, their search may just lead them back to the place it all started.

Doesn’t that sound amazing? You have to put this book on your to-read list now! For more information about this book or to check out J.A. Souders’ other books, check out her website.

Both J.A. Souders and I will be at the Romantic Times convention this year in New Orleans. I wonder how many embarrassing situations we’ll wind up in this time. Five, six, or perhaps even11 ? Only time with tell I guess.

Now for the top-secret bonus material. A deleted scene from REVELATIONS

~GAVIN~

Following the white rabbit is harder than I thought it would be. No wonder poor Alice fell into his hole. It’s impossible to watch where I’m stepping when the damn thing moves faster than lightning and I have to keep up.

I guess it’s a good thing that I already went to Wonderland, code name Elysium. Except that place was no Wonderland. More like Horrorland. And it’s not anything I want to repeat. Ever. My mind still reels thinking of what I went through not two months before. Genetic mutations. Brainwashing. A beautiful princess needing rescuing.

Evie, I think with a smile. The only shining light from that hell.

The rabbit dives under some brush and I take the opportunity to scan the shoreline across the inlet for Evie. I don’t like to leave her alone for too long. Even though she could kick my ass two hundred ways from Tuesday, she’s delicate. Especially now that she’s here. On The Surface.

The Surface may not be the hell her mother described it to be, but for Evie, it might as well be. Her body has been under a constant attack from every little germ. There hasn’t been a day that goes by that she isn’t sick. First a tiny little cold, then the flu, now…who the hell knows, but it’s the worst by far. With her blackouts. High fevers . And especially the shallow, rapid wet sounding breaths. And to add insult to injury our idiotic doctor hasn’t been able to keep her shoulder from getting infected. It’s like she’s dying by inches and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it.

Still scanning the shoreline for her, I narrow my eyes when someone else comes into view. I scowl when I realize it’s Asher. Former best friend, current asshole. I glance down at the slingshot in my hand. Perfect weapon for rabbits and assholes alike.

Smiling, I temporarily forget about the rabbit and take careful aim at Asher’s head, calculating how far to pull the band back so it’s hard enough to lob it over the cove, but still soft enough it won’t cause too much damage. I don’t want to kill the guy, after all. Well, not enough to actually do it, anyway.

With a thwing, I release the rubber band and send the rock sailing across the cove, hitting Asher’s head with a soft thump.

“Ouch!” His voice echoes across the inlet and I watch with satisfied joy as he presses a hand to his head and stumbles a few steps along the beach. Smiling, I go back to looking for Evie. It doesn’t take long to find her–she’s not that far from Asher.

“Damn it!” I press my hand over my face, before dragging it through my hair, when she gets up and start toward him. Of course, she’s going to help him. That’s what she does. Always trying to help the wounded puppy, even if it gets her into trouble.

I smile ruefully when I remember that’s the only reason she’s with me in the first place. Because I was that wounded puppy and she nursed me back from death’s door.

A rustling sound reminds me to get back to hunting that rabbit. It won’t take Evie long to realize I was the one who pegged Asher and I’m going to need those rabbit fur gloves as payment for my sins.

I love bonus material! =)If you think this series is just what you’ve been looking for, you can buy your copies here.

Thank you so much for visiting my website! While you’re here don’t forget to enter the bonus contest I am running exclusively during the YA Scavenger Hunt.

I will be giving away one copy of the last book in my KATANA trilogy, SHINOBI, as well as a Book Nerd bumper sticker and bonus swag! I mean, who doesn’t need a book nerd bumper sticker? This prize pack is something you don’t want to miss out on. To be eligible to win, enter on the rafflecopter below.

What: Not only will I be signing copies of Shinobi, the third and final book in the Katana trilogy, but there will be samurai, cupcakes, and SAMURAI! If you ask nicely, I’m sure they’ll be happy to take a photo with you, or cut your head off. I guess it depends on their mood that day.

If you’ve never been to historic St. Charles, there are amazing shops and wineries all located within walking distance from the bookstore. (I got your attention now, didn’t I?)

For more information (and to let me know you’re coming so I know how many head mounts cupcakes to buy) click here. If you’re not on Facebook, you can also let me know you plan to attend by mentioning it in the comments.

Tomorrow Shinobi, the third and final book in my KATANA trilogy, releases tomorrow!!!

I sorta can’t believe it. When I think about all the hard work, tears, sweat, and blood went into writing these books and getting them published, I’m so excited to be able to share the final story with you, but at the same time mourning the fact that I’ll be moving away from these characters who I’ve grown to love–who are a part of me.

I can say in all honesty, Shinobi is my favorite of the trilogy. This is the book Kirkus calls:

I couldn’t be more pleased with that description. The one thing that makes saying farewell to one series is knowing I have so many other projects in the works. Hopefully I’ll be able to tell you all about those soon.

In the meantime, I want to celebrate Shinobi’s release with a book lover’s giveaway! I’m offering a super fun assortment of 7 prizes geared to book lovers. The prizes are as follows:

Here’s a quick description of the candle as taken from their Etsy shop:

Part of our Book Lovers’ Series, this candle is a completely original scent inspired by the smell of old books! Ideal for bibliophiles of all sorts. The scent is a sweet, earthy smell with a hint of must. (Not mildewy, rotten old books!) It will make you want to curl up with your favorite Classic.
Scents:
Timber, White Tea, Newsprint, Must
Materials:
Glass jar, soy wax, wick, dye chips and fragrance oil.
Size:
8 ounces of wax, weighs about 1 lb.

Here’s a quick description of the perfume as taken from their Etsy site:

Redolent of ink and paper, Silence in the Library is full of deep vanilla base notes infused with black pepper and a touch of neroli for sweetness. This scent is warm and a little spicy, reminiscent of afternoons amongst stack of ancient books.
This sample sized spray bottle contains approximately 3.3ml of alcohol based perfume, safely delivered to you in a small blue box.

And lastly, I’m giving away a signed copy of the first book in the trilogy, KATANA!

The contest will be open tomorrow and the prizes will be drawn randomly through Rafflecopter. Unfortunately, due to shipping costs, this contest is open to US residents only. You’ll find the entry form below:

So not only do I have a brand new shiny website, but I’m also in a brand new shiny anthology with some truly amazing authors! If you like new adult fiction and you like things HAWT, this is definitely the book for you. And it can be yours for only:

Sorry. I couldn’t resist. *grin*

The anthology is called Fifty First Times and you should definitely check it out. Just click on the picture below, or if you want to read more about it, click on the New Adult tab for a detailed description.

If you’re still not convinced, here’s a glowing testimonial from my dog:

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About Cole

At seventeen Cole found herself homeless with only a beat-up Volkswagen Jetta and a bag of Goodwill clothing to her name. The only things that got her through the nights she spent parked in truck stops and cornfields were the stacks of books she checked out from the library along with her trusty flashlight. Because of the reprieve these books gave her from her troubles, Cole vowed to become a writer so she could provide the same escape to readers who needed a break the reality of their own lives.